Homecoming.

When they hear the word Homecoming, many students think of the cheers of fans in the football stadiums, the whisper of fabric and music at the dance, and the excitement. Right now, most students think of this week, Sept. 12—17—Homecoming week for Shawnee Mission North.

Activities

The Homecoming game and dance are infamous, but some students may ask what else the week includes.

The Homecoming top 3 voting is Monday through Thursday. Spirit week is also this week. Sept. 16 is the Homecoming Reception at 6 p.m. in the library for the Homecoming Queen candidates.

The Homecoming Parade is at 2 p.m. on Sept. 16, and the theme is Olympics. That night—the Homecoming football game At 7 p.m., the varsity football team will be playing against Lansing.

“I am very excited for the homecoming game,” said senior Will Schneider, the team’s quarterback. “We have a good team this year . . . it is our home opener so there is going to be a lot of hype around this game.”

On Sept. 17 a soccer alumni game will be going on from 1-5 p.m. in the stadium, and, of course, the Homecoming dance, from 8-11 p.m. The theme this year is Wild, Wild West, with a backdrop on the stage of a western town scene.

“We’ll have brown and lace gossamer to give the western look,” said senior Natalie Turner, StuCo’s Social Events chair. This is Turner’s second year to chair the event.

Tickets for the dance will be sold during lunch Homecoming week and at the dance. They cost $15 for one and $25 for a couple.

“However, for each non-perishable food item you bring, you’ll get $1 off your ticket price,” Sara Price, STUCO sponsor, said. There’s a limit of $5 off the ticket price, so don’t bring in 25 cans and expect to buy your way in with that.”

If students need something to wear, or want to get rid of their old outfit, they can stop by room 116 or the main office and talk to Melissa Miller. Her Fashion Merchandising class is having a formal dress drive, where you can drop off donations or (if you ask nicely) get a dress for Homecoming, WPA, or Prom.

Why Homecoming?

The time is 1909, 1910, and 1911. The place is . . . sorry, high schoolers . . . 3 different universities—Baylor University, University of Illinois, and University of Missouri. The event? Dances, dresses, parades, football; it’s homecoming.

All three of these schools claim the origins of homecoming. In 1909, Baylor University scheduled a “Good Will Week”, inviting alumni to return Thanksgiving weekend for different activities such as dances and games. In 1910, two seniors from the University of Illinois planned an event to encourage school spirit and reverse their losing streak in the annual Illinois-Chicago rivalry. And in 1911, the Athletic Director from the University of Missouri invited alumni to attend the annual game against KU at the new location of the football field, planning activities to go along with it as well.

Fastforward to Sept. 12, 2016. Just like these schools back in the day, SM North is having it’s own homecoming—a whole week of it.

Get ready, North.